| Product Summary | | Label: Universal Records | | UPC: 00044007702123 | | Release Date: 2/4/2003 | | Buy.com Sku: 60588480 | | Item#: MSP5YJ | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25079 | Format:  CD |
|
|
|
|
| Song Listing |  |
Disc 1
| | Song Title | Sample | | 1. Intro ~ LL Cool J |  | | 2. Born To Love You ~ LL Cool J | | | 3. Luv You Better ~ LL Cool J | | | 4. Paradise - (featuring Amerie) ~ LL Cool J | | | 5. Fa Ha ~ LL Cool J | | | 6. Niggy Nuts ~ LL Cool J | | | 7. Amazin' - (introducing Kandice Love) ~ LL Cool J | | | 8. Clockin' G's ~ LL Cool J | | | 9. Lollipop ~ LL Cool J | | | 10. After School - (featuring P. Diddy) ~ LL Cool J | | | 11. Throw Ya L's Up ~ LL Cool J | | | 12. U Should ~ LL Cool J | | | 13. 10 Million Stars ~ LL Cool J | | | 14. Mirror Mirror ~ LL Cool J | | | 15. Big Mama (Unconditonal Love) - (featuring Dru Hill) ~ LL Cool J | | | 16. All I Have - (featuring Jennifer Lopez) ~ LL Cool J | |
| | Believe it or not, there was once a time when even industry insiders assumed that an artist would never find longevity in the world of hip-hop. Yet, with almost two decades of hits and his tenth album ready to drop, LL Cool J has proven the naysayers wrong. On 10 the ultimate rhyme slayer has climbed back into the ring and is ready to do his thing. "I consider this disc to be a milestone in my life," says LL Cool J. "A tenth album for anybody is truly an amazing moment." For 10, LL teams with old friends (The Trackmasters) and new buddies (The Neptunes) to create an album that can compete with any other beats on the streets. "I lived, breathed and slept this record. For me, it's all about taking risks. I'm not trying to rehash Bigger & Deffer or Mama Said Knock You Out. When a rapper starts repeating themselves, that's when they become stale." As fans and critics will soon hear, LL Cool J is as fresh as he ever was.
"...it's a fun record..." PopMatters
"LL's best album since 1987's Bigger and Deffer. " Uncut
| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: LL Cool J, P. Diddy, Usher, K-Ci & Jo-Jo, Amerie, Jennifer Lopez. | | Producers include: DJ S&S, Tone & Poke, Richie Nice, The Neptunes, Zukhan. | | "Luv U Better" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. | | Personnel: Rich Nice (vocals, guitar, drum programming, scratches); Terry Robinson, Free, Marc Dorsey (vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Glen Marchese; Commissioner Gordon; Jason Goldstein; Patrick Viala; Big Joe. | | Recording information: Electric Lady, New York, NY; Hit Factory, New York, NY; Master Sound Recording Studio, Virginia Beach, VA; Power Plant, New York, NY; Sony Studios, New York, NY; The Headquarters Studios, NJ; The Hit Factory, New York, NY. | | Photographer: Roger Erickson. | | No, "10" isn't the rating of LL Cool J's flexed biceps or his bare chest, it's the number of albums he's recorded for Def Jam -- and the title of his latest. As on his last couple, LL moves back and forth between lovers rock and a few hardcore tracks. He sounds more comfortable singing to the ladies though, with a little pleading and a lot of telling how it's going to be, balancing his usual gravelly delivery with plenty of sweet, female-led choruses. Surprisingly, despite a strong roster of producers (Tone & Poke, the Neptunes, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence), 10 isn't much of a head-turner. Only the DJ S&S production "Fa Ha" lets LL Cool J relax into a solid hardcore groove. Just like on the cover, there's a lot of posturing going on here, but very little substance. ~ John Bush | | LL Cool J's tenth album for Def Jam, the label he helped to create, is as you'd expect something of a triumphant affair. The rapper's long career (his first hit was in 1985) and extensive experience have earned him a unique place as something of an elder statesman in an industry where careers are often literally short-lived. He's based his on a singular reliance on smart rapping and tightly arranged material, not just beats overlaid with scrappy keyboard figures. Thus 10's first impression is of a fully realized, expansively conceived project. | | Of course, a rapper can never go far wrong shouting out to his home turf. With nods to Queens and Brooklyn on "Fa Ha," and "Niggy Nuts" LL Cool J proves (as if proof were needed) that despite his extensive success, his heart has never strayed far from home, despite the exotic lifestyle he depicts in "Amazin'." Two obvious conclusions to draw from the material on offer here: the star remains a little in awe of his success, and he's done more with that success and with his chosen genre than quite a few of his contemporaries. | | No, "10" isn't the rating of LL Cool J's flexed biceps or his bare chest; it's the number of albums he's recorded for Def Jam -- and the title of his 2003 release. As on his last couple, LL moves back and forth between lovers rock and a few hardcore tracks. He sounds more comfortable singing to the ladies though, with a little pleading and a lot of telling how it's going to be, balancing his usual gravelly delivery with plenty of sweet, female-led choruses. Surprisingly, despite a strong roster of producers (Tone & Poke, the Neptunes, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence), 10 isn't much of a head-turner. Only the DJ S&S production "Fa Ha" lets LL Cool J relax into a solid hardcore groove. Just like on the cover, there's a lot of posturing going on here, but very little substance. [A duet with Jennifer Lopez, "All I Have," is included here as a bonus track.] ~ John Bush | | No, "10" isn't the rating of LL Cool J's flexed biceps or his bare chest; it's the number of albums he's recorded for Def Jam -- and the title of his 2003 release. As on his last couple, LL moves back and forth between lovers rock and a few hardcore tracks. He sounds more comfortable singing to the ladies though, with a little pleading and a lot of telling how it's going to be, balancing his usual gravelly delivery with plenty of sweet, female-led choruses. Surprisingly, despite a strong roster of producers (Tone & Poke, the Neptunes, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence), 10 isn't much of a head-turner. Only the DJ S&S production "Fa Ha" lets LL Cool J relax into a solid hardcore groove. Just like on the cover, there's a lot of posturing going on here, but very little substance. [A duet with Jennifer Lopez, "All I Have," is included here as a bonus track.] ~ John Bush |
Engineer: Glen Marchese; Commissioner Gordon; Jason Goldstein; Adam Gazzola; Joe Quinde; Andrew Coleman; Peter Wade Keusch; Bruce Swedien |
Musical Guests | | P. Diddy | | Jennifer Lopez | | Usher | | Amerie | | Dru Hill |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Associated Artists and Works |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 02/04/2003 | | Original Release Date : 2002 | | Catalog ID : 077021 | | Label : Def Jam (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00044007702123 |
|
| | Professional Reviews | | Rolling Stone (11/14/02, p.86)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "...10 justifies LL's longevity..."Uncut (1/03, p.122)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "The numerical milestone has inspired LL's best album since 1987's BIGGER AND DEFFER..."n Launch.com 7 of 10
A decade ago, a still-hungry LL really might have been "The Greatest Of All Time," but age and a successful acting career have apparently left him content to reprise past glories. But when those glories are as considerable as LL's, a recap can still be pretty satisfying. - Dan Leroy
|
|
| |
|
|
